Like all Rocky films, Rocky takes a severe beating all while doling one out as well. So I guess it should really come as no surprise when one final blow from the Italian Stallion sends Apollo to the mat followed shortly by Rocko himself. Who will get up in the end? Oh, the drama…
The version of this punch from 2006’s The Wicker Man starring Nicolas Cage and featuring the music from Chariots of Fire is just priceless. Of course it makes the clip funnier than it actually is in the film, but if you were to describe this scene to someone I am not sure you could convince them it was actually part of a multi-million dollar studio effort. However, it’s true. Nicolas Cage, the Oscar-winning actor from Leaving Las Vegas, puts on a bear suit and runs off to punch a woman. Classy.
You can get even more Cagey blows (including the original version of this punch) thrown in Wicker Man and then some — Oh, the bees! — right here.
Can you believe this is the only punch from a film I couldn’t find a clip for? I am sure many expected this to be the #1 punch of all-time as there is no telling what may have happened to the world had George McFly not decked Biff at the end of Back to the Future, but thankfully he got the nerve and delivered a left cross from out of nowhere. However, I am not sure I will ever understand how Marty’s parents never realized the guy that brought the two of them together at the “Enchantment Under the Sea Dance” looks, sounds and actually is their son. That one is a brain teaser for the ages.
The first uppercut delivered in this clip from Snatch may actually be one of the more visually appealing punches in film history, but when Mickey rises from the depths to deliver the knockout blow, coupled with Turkish saying, “Now… we are fucked,” we end up with a truly classic punch.
I can’t tell you how many times I watched this clip while making this list and as a matter of fact… I think I will just go watch the whole movie. You should to, and if you don’t own it hustle up and buy it!
So that’s all I have. I know there are more out there. I considered adding the ear shot from Fight Club, a punch from The Matrix (but I could only really think of the one from Revolutions which was just to much CGI) and I considered the punch from Punisher: War Zone where he punches straight through that guy’s head. There were a couple of others I had in my head, but I just couldn’t place the movies so I know there are more to be discussed.
Care to help me out? Discuss your favorite punches and my top ten in the comments below.
